Laurence Fishburne, star of stage and screen, has been cast in Playtika's latest commercial for the World Series of Poker app. This is not to be confused with WSOP.com, online poker platform. Playtika's WSOP app is a licensed product that uses some of the Series's branding. The WSOP's involvement ends there.
It is pleasant to see an icon like Fishburne engaging with poker even in this ersatz way. Fishburne is best known as either Morpheus in The Matrix or as Jack Crawford in Hannibal, depending on whether you're old enough to remember Y2K or not.
According to the presser issued by Playtika about the WSOP commercial, Fishburne said, "It was a really interesting offer to join the project. It came to me, and I thought 'I had to be a part of this'. I'm aware of the WSOP and am fascinated by the gamesmanship of it. I'm thrilled to be a part of this game, and hope people enjoy my presence and that it can give them some joy!"
The presser describes the role as a "partnership," industry jargon that doesn't quite land right here. He has been cast in their TV ads. So far, it looks like that is the start and end of this particular joint venture.
